The House of Representatives
on October 21 passed H.R. 2, legislation reauthorizing the Federal
governmentís major support program for elementary and secondary schools,
Title I of the original Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).

The vote, 358 to 67,
reauthorizes The Title I program at a level of $9.8 billion for Fy 2000.
Earlier, the House passed (213 to 208) H.R. 2300, legislation creating a
pilot program giving 10 states unprecedented flexibility in spending of
Federal education funds.

Title I grants are targeted to
the nationís poorest and most disadvantaged students. Reauthorization of
Title I funds ó at a level of $1.5 billion higher than in the original
bill ó won wide bipartisan support. An amendment to boost the funding
level was offered by Rep. Tim Roemer (IN) and Jack Quinn (NY) and passed
243-181.

Flexibility in spending
Federal education funds was at the heart of extended and contentious
debate with many Republican conservatives left feeling that the bill was a
step in the right direction, even if it didnít go far enough in giving
local school districts more decision-making power over how Federal
education funds are spent.

Another amendment, offered by
Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman Bill Goodling (PA), was
adopted, and included bilingual provisions left out of the original
measure.

Womens Equity Act

During debate on ESEAís
reauthorization, the House also adopted (311-111) an amendment offered by
a bipartisan group of women that would authorize $5 million in FY 2000 to
reinstate the 1974 Womens Equity Act, legislation enacted to ensure that
females have full and equal access to educational and career
opportunities. It would also restore language to Title I restoring gender
and equity.